14:1
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמְרָפֶ֣ל מֶֽלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָ֔ר
Now it happened,
in the days of Amraphel (“the Mouth of God Said”)
the king of Shinar (Nimrod, Mesopotamia),
אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר
Arioch (Lion-like), king of Ellasar,
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֔ם
CedorlaOmer (warring for the sheaf),
king of Elam (South Western Iran/Khuzestan),
וְתִדְעָ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ גּוֹיִֽם׃
And Tidal (Tudhalia/Hittites/Anatolia/Turkey), king of nations:
14:2
עָשׂ֣וּ מִלְחָמָ֗ה
They made war –
אֶת־בֶּ֙רַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ סְדֹ֔ם
with Bera (in evil), the king of Sodom,
וְאֶת־בִּרְשַׁ֖ע מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֑ה
and with Birsha (in wickedness), king of Gomorrah;
שִׁנְאָ֣ב ׀ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַדְמָ֗ה
Shinav (father’s fang) the king of Admah (soil),
וְשֶׁמְאֵ֙בֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ צביים [צְבוֹיִ֔ים]
And ShemAver (pinion personified/soaring),
the king of Zvoim (gazelles),
וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִיא־צֹֽעַר׃
And the king of Bela (devouring), which is now Zoar (small/lowly);
14:3
כָּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ חָֽבְר֔וּ אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק הַשִּׂדִּ֑ים
All these had joined battle
at the lowland of the Siddim plains,
ה֖וּא יָ֥ם הַמֶּֽלַח׃
That is the Salt Sea (and now the Dead Sea).
14:4
שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה עָבְד֖וּ אֶת־כְּדָרְלָעֹ֑מֶר
Twelve years they had served CedorlaOmer;
וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה מָרָֽדוּ׃
And year thirteen they rebelled;
14:5
וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה בָּ֣א כְדָרְלָעֹ֗מֶר
Then in year fourteen CedorlaOmer had come,
וְהַמְּלָכִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ
and the kings who were with him,
וַיַּכּ֤וּ אֶת־רְפָאִים֙ בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת קַרְנַ֔יִם
And they struck the Rephaim (ancestral cult/shades/giants)
in Ashteroth (goddess of fertility and war) Karnaim (Two Horns),
וְאֶת־הַזּוּזִ֖ים בְּהָ֑ם
and the Zuzim (abundance/excess) in Ham
וְאֵת֙ הֽ͏ָאֵימִ֔ים בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃
and the Eimim (terrorists),
on the Shaveh (even ground) of Kiryathaim (Twin City);
14:6
וְאֶת־הַחֹרִ֖י בְּהַרְרָ֣ם שֵׂעִ֑יר
And the Chorites (Hurrians) in their mountainous regions of Seir,
עַ֚ד אֵ֣יל פָּארָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
As far as El Paran (Eilat)
which is by the desert.
14:7
וַ֠יָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־עֵ֤ין מִשְׁפָּט֙ הִ֣וא קָדֵ֔שׁ
Then they turned back,
and came to Ein Mishpat (Spring of Judgment),
which is now Kadesh (male cultic prostitute),
וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶֽת־כָּל־שְׂדֵ֖ה הָעֲמָלֵקִ֑י
and struck the whole Amalekite territory,
וְגַם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב בְּחַֽצְצֹ֥ן תָּמָֽר׃
And also the Amorites (A Semitic people), who were dwelling
in Chatzazon Tamar (Ein Gedi / “Gravel Heap with Palms”).
14:8
וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֜ם וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֗ה
And the king of Sodom
and the king of Gomorrah
וּמֶ֤לֶךְ אַדְמָה֙ וּמֶ֣לֶךְ צביים [צְבוֹיִ֔ם]
and the king of Admah
and the king of Tzevoim
וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִוא־צֹ֑עַר
and the king of Bela (which is now Zoar (small/lowly),
וַיַּֽעַרְכ֤וּ אִתָּם֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖מֶק הַשִּׂדִּֽים׃
Drew battle formation with them:
14:9
אֵ֣ת כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֗ם
With CedorlaOmer, king of Elam,
וְתִדְעָל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ גּוֹיִ֔ם
And Tidal king of nations,
וְאַמְרָפֶל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שִׁנְעָ֔ר
And Amraphel king of Shinar,
וְאַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר
And Arioch king of Ellasar:
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה מְלָכִ֖ים אֶת־הַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃
Four kings with five.
14:10
וְעֵ֣מֶק הַשִׂדִּ֗ים בּֽ͏ֶאֱרֹ֤ת בֶּאֱרֹת֙ חֵמָ֔ר
Now the lowland of the Siddim plains
consisted of numerous bitumen pits,
וַיָּנֻ֛סוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה וַיִּפְּלוּ־שָׁ֑מָּה
And both the king of Sodom and Gomorrah fled,
but they fell therein.
וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים הֶ֥רָה נָּֽסוּ׃
And those remaining
had taken flight to the mountainous region.
14:11
וַ֠יִּקְחוּ אֶת־כָּל־רְכֻ֨שׁ סְדֹ֧ם וַעֲמֹרָ֛ה
And they took all the goods
of Sodom and Gomorrah,
וְאֶת־כָּל־אָכְלָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃
and all their food, and went away;
14:12
וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶת־ל֧וֹט וְאֶת־רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ
They took Lot as well,
and all his possessions,
בֶּן־אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ
— the son of the brother of Avram —
and departed:
וְה֥וּא יֹשֵׁ֖ב בִּסְדֹֽם׃ ס
Since he, Lot, had been living in Sodom.
14:13
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְרָ֣ם הָעִבְרִ֑י
Now one who escaped came and told Avram;
וְהוּא֩ שֹׁכֵ֨ן בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י מַמְרֵ֣א הָאֱמֹרִ֗י
Now he, Avram, is dwelling
by the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite,
אֲחִ֤י אֶשְׁכֹּל֙ וַאֲחִ֣י עָנֵ֔ר
the brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner;
וְהֵ֖ם בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְרִית־אַבְרָֽם׃
And they were partners of the Covenant of Avram.
14:14
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אָחִ֑יו
Then Avram heard
that his brother had been taken captive;
וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ
So he armed his trained ones,
born of his household,
שְׁמֹנָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף עַד־דָּֽן׃
Three hundred and eighteen,
and he gave chase as far as Dan (Judge/Laish);
14:15
וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם
Then he divided himself against them by night,
he and his servants, and he struck them;
וֽ͏ַיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃
And he pursued them as far as Chobah,
which is North, relative to Damascus.
14:16
וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ
And he recovered all the goods;
וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט אָחִ֤יו וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ הֵשִׁ֔יב
And he had also brought back Lot his brother
and all his belongings,
וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעָֽם׃
and moreover the women, and the people.
14:17
וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒
And the new king of Sodom came forth to encounter him,
אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֽ͏ֵהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדָר־לָעֹ֔מֶר
(after his return, from smiting Cedor-laOmer,
וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ
and the kings which were with him),
אֶל־עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
in the Valley of Shaveh (level ground),
(it is the King’s Valley);
14:18
וּמַלְכִּי־צֶ֙דֶק֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שָׁלֵ֔ם הוֹצִ֖יא לֶ֣חֶם וָיָ֑יִן
But MelkiZedek (King of Righteousness),
King of Shalem
(Jerusalem/in covenant of peace /completeness/fullness/wholeness),
brings forth bread and wine;
וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
And He is Priest, of God Most High;
14:19
וֽ͏ַיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר
And He blessed him and said:
בָּר֤וּךְ אַבְרָם֙ לְאֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן
“Avram is blessed of God Most High,
קֹנֵ֖ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
Redeemer of heaven and earth;”
14:20
וּבָרוּךְ֙ אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן
“And blessed is God Most High,
אֲשֶׁר־מִגֵּ֥ן צָרֶ֖יךָ בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר מִכֹּֽל׃
So he gave him a tenth part of everything.
14:21
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֖ם אֶל־אַבְרָ֑ם
Then the king of Sodom said to Avram:
תֶּן־לִ֣י הַנֶּ֔פֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻ֖שׁ קַֽח־לָֽךְ׃
“Give me the persons,
and take the goods for yourself!”
14:22
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָ֖ם אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ סְדֹ֑ם
And Avram replied to the king of Sodom:
הֲרִימֹ֨תִי יָדִ֤י אֶל־יְהוָה֙ אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן
“I have lifted my hand to the LORD God Most High,
קֹנֵ֖ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
Redeemer of heaven and earth;”
14:23
אִם־מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־נַ֔עַל
“Not a thread even down to a sandal strap
וְאִם־אֶקַּ֖ח מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֑ךְ
shall I accept out of anything that is yours,
וְלֹ֣א תֹאמַ֔ר אֲנִ֖י הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי אֶת־אַבְרָֽם׃
Lest you should say ‘It is I, I made Avram rich!’”
14:24
בִּלְעָדַ֗י רַ֚ק אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֽ͏ָכְל֣וּ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים
Except, only, that which the young men have eaten,
וְחֵ֙לֶק֙ הֽ͏ָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלְכ֖וּ אִתִּ֑י
and the portion of the men that went with me,
עָנֵר֙ אֶשְׁכֹּ֣ל וּמַמְרֵ֔א
Aner, Eshcol and Mamre,
הֵ֖ם יִקְח֥וּ חֶלְקָֽם׃ ס
They themselves will take their share.
Website translation into English by Eddie Van Gent,
together with his wife, Maraea Van Gent (Masters of Humanities in Social Sciences, Majoring in Education)
The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode/XML version 1.3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26.4 from tanach.us
Audio excerpts from
Tanakh audio recording by Rabbi Dan Be’eri
Chapter 14 Hebrew Audio
